Family Fabaceae -Leguminosae sub family Papilionaceae
KSW : mpingo
GIR: Muhingo
Small tree 4 to 15M
Hardwood used for furniture & musical instruments
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Fabaceae
Fabaceae Species
- Afzelia Quanzensis
- Bauhinia Mombassae
- Caesalpinia Angolensis – to Follow
- Cassia Afrofistula Var. Afrofistula
- Clitoria Ternatea
- Craibia Bevicaudata Ssp. Brevicaudata
- Dalbergia Melanoxylon
- Dichrostachys Cinerea
Dalbergia Melanoxylon
Vachelia Robusta SSP. Usambarensis
(Previous Name Acacia Robusta)
Family: Fabaceae, Leguminosae – Mimosaceae
KWS: Mgunga
Gir: Mtsemeri/Mgunga
Self seeded. This is a small to medium, upright, deciduous thorn tree consisting of a narrow crown. Up
to 10m. Creamy pompom flowers. The strongly scented flowers attract bees and butterflies, and many other insects. The seed pods are eaten by herbivores and monkeys. Vachelia roots are nitrogen fixing making it suitable for underplanting. Larval host to many butterflies.
The roots and stem bark as medicines for chest pains, colds and coughs.
Available: Kivukoni Indigenous Tree Nursery.
Valchellia may be host to the below butterflies (refer Valchellia Butterflies):
- Azanus jesous – African Babul Blue
- Eicochrysops hippocrates- White Tipped Blue
- Chloroselas pseudozeritis -Brilliant Gem
- Anthene amarah – Leaden Ciliate Blue
- Anthene otacilia – Kikuyu Ciliate Blue
- Aphnaeus zanzibarensis – East African Silver Spot
- Charaxes zooline – Club-tailed Charaxes
- Axiocerses punicea – Rainforest Scarlet
- Axiocerses harpax – Common Scarlet
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Vachellia Nilotica
(Previously Acacia Nilotica)
Family: Fabaceae, Leguminosae – Mimosaceae
ENG: Gum Arabic Tree /Egyptian Acacia
KWS: Mgunga
GIR: Muoti
Tree 5 to 20M. Self seeded.
This is the ancient Egyptian tree of life and the Acacia is derived from Greek.
Flowers are visited by bees and butterflies. Bush babies eat the gum. I wake up to a cacaphony of birds sitting in the tree. The leaves are larval host to azanus species of butterly.
The roots and stem bark are uses as medicines for coughs
Available – Kivukoni Indigenous Tree Nursery.
Valchellia may be host to the below butterflies (refer Valchellia Butterflies):
- Azanus jesous – African Babul Blue
- Eicochrysops hippocrates- White Tipped Blue
- Chloroselas pseudozeritis -Brilliant Gem
- Anthene amarah – Leaden Ciliate Blue
- Anthene otacilia – Kikuyu Ciliate Blue
- Aphnaeus zanzibarensis – East African Silver Spot
- Charaxes zooline – Club-tailed Charaxes
- Axiocerses punicea – Rainforest Scarlet
- Axiocerses harpax – Common Scarlet
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Tamarindus Indica
Family: Fabaceae sub-family Caesalpiniaceae
KSW: Mkwaju.
GIR: Mukwaju
Indigenous or naturalised, large & beautiful, deciduous tree to 25 m with very hard wood. Fruits edible & loved by monkeys. Slow-growing.
Available from local nurseries
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Millettia Usaramensis
Family: Fabaceae -Leguminosae sub family Papilionaceae
GIR: Mhamna
Bushy tree 7m-10 m. Flowers in lovely large lavender sprays before rains. Very hard timber.
Host to Plecoptera hypoxantha.
Available from Kivukoni Indigenous Tree Nursery.
Indigofera Species
Family: Fabaceae -Leguminosae sub family Papilionaceae
GIR: Mushero/Kashero
Herb/ Shrub
Self seeded.
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Erythrina Saccleuxii
Family: Fabaceae -Leguminosae sub family Papilionaceae
GIR: Mulungu
A tall tree with spiny trunk and branches . Recorded as near threatened. Attracts birds.
Available from Kivukoni Indigenous Tree Nursery
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Dichrostachys Cinerea
Family: Fabaceae – Leguminosae – Mimosaceae
GIR: Muchinjiri
A spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 7 m high, with a rounded crown, 3 m wide.
The plant roots are used in traditional medicine.
Self seeded
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Craibia Bevicaudata
Family: Fabaceae -Leguminosae sub family Papilionaceae
KWS: Mfunda
GIR: Muhande
Medium to large evergreen tree. White flowers.
Attractive to beetles.
Available from Kivukoni Indigenous Tree Nursery.
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